Virgin adds transtasman flights after break-up with Air NZ

Virgin Australia will add more seats across the Tasman over summer as its alliance with Air New Zealand ends.

Virgin has fired back in what is shaping up as a post-divorce battle with Air New Zealand across the Tasman, putting on more than 40,000 extra seats next summer.

The Australian airline had already announced a 13 per cent increase in capacity from October 28 but yesterday said it would add thousands more seats as part of a regional expansion later this year.

It will add more than 65 return services to its international short-haul network. It has added 18 return services between Sydney and Queenstown in addition to existing Monday-Friday services during this period. It also added 18 return weekend services between Melbourne and Queenstown, in addition to the previously announced Monday, Wednesday and Friday services during this period.

Virgin also added nine return services between Brisbane and Christchurch during the Christmas/ New Year period. The airline will also fly more from Australia to Samoa and Vanuatu over summer.

The airline is also increasing Auckland-Sydney flights to three times a day during the week and twice daily on weekends, Auckl and Melbourne is increased to double daily every day and Auckl and Brisbane up to two services and up to three on peak days.